That's three experienced seamers we've signed.
That John Morris has persuaded Tim Groenewald, Ian Hunter and Tom Lungley that their future lies at Derby is a definite plus. As I wrote this morning, we need 6 seamers so that they can be rotated and kept fresh. With support from Greg Smith and Garry Park, we have good options now, especially if Jon Clare can recapture his form and confidence of 2008.
Groenewald was the big success of 2009. With over 50 wickets in all competitions, allied to useful runs, he fully justified John Morris' bringing him from Edgbaston and became a key member of the attack. He has signed a one-year extension to his existing deal so is now contracted until the end of 2011.
Ian Hunter started the season as our "in form" bowler and took a number of early wickets when the ball was swinging. He will never be more than an honest county pro, but when he gets it right he gets clusters of wickets, as well as offering handy runs from an uncomplicated batting style. With a new two-year deal he will remain a handy and potentially dangerous seamer when the conditions are in his favour.
The enigma is, without doubt, Tom Lungley. On his day he can bowl teams out, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Last year he zipped out five Leicestershire wickets in a 20-over game yet on other occasions was very erratic. He has the best strike rate of our seamers, yet in a career that started with us in 2000 he has only managed 48 first class matches and 130 wickets, 59 of which came in 2007. If he can get fit and with the assistance of Steffan Jones can stay fit, he may yet have a part to play in our future.
Those who moan about our attack's penetration perhaps forget that only Durham and Gloucestershire in either division took more bowling bonus points than us last year. Our problem came in finishing sides off and I'm sure I am not alone in hoping that John Morris has a spin bowling ace up his sleeve. When the seamers hit a wall, sometimes a spin bowler who can put it on a spot with plenty of variation can make a breakthrough to allow them a go at new batsmen. With respect to Jake Needham and Mark Lawson, neither afforded us that luxury last year.
I'm pleased that we have secured our seam attack for next year. Whether anyone else comes in is debatable, but I'm sure that most fans will now be watching to see when we will be signing the spinner who will be crucial to our chances of improvement - dare I say sucess? - next season.
One final point. Last night I wrote about Paul Borrington and suggested that he would probably bat at three next season. Of course, another option could be that he goes in at 6, giving us someone who can face the second new ball with no major concerns. It would also allow Garry Park to stay at three, where he did so well. Borrington will probably, in my opinion, score the Championship runs that Wavell Hinds did last season, while being more sprightly in the field. Whether he plays one day games is another matter, but I'm sure he'd be keen to do so.
Here's to a good season for the lad. I hope that he comes in to face many second new balls with the score 380-4...
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Seamers sign
News this morning that Tim Groenewald, Ian Hunter and Tom Lungley have all re-signed for 2010, according to the BBC.
While not news of new players, fans must surely be pleased that we have secured three bowlers who, on their day, can bowl well. It will put an end to conjecture about their futures on the various message boards and is another step towards next season for the club.
The signing of Groenewald will be the most pleasing, after an excellent 2009 in which he took over 50 wickets after forcing his way into the side. He also showed ability with the bat and could become an increasing force as an all rounder if he continues to work on his game.
Hunter bowled well in the early season, though got few opportunities as the year progressed after the signing of Steffan Jones. The team needs experienced bowlers to get through an extensive fixture list and Hunter will rarely let the side down.
As for Lungley, he went to Lancashire for some cricket in mid/late season and did well, but he has an opportunity to cement a place in the side and must hope for better performances in 2010.
I'm sure that there will be different opinions on these signings, but at least we now have enough seamers - add Jones, Wagg and Clare to the names above - to be able to rotate the attack and keep them all fairly fresh.
Let me know your thoughts when you can. More from me later.
While not news of new players, fans must surely be pleased that we have secured three bowlers who, on their day, can bowl well. It will put an end to conjecture about their futures on the various message boards and is another step towards next season for the club.
The signing of Groenewald will be the most pleasing, after an excellent 2009 in which he took over 50 wickets after forcing his way into the side. He also showed ability with the bat and could become an increasing force as an all rounder if he continues to work on his game.
Hunter bowled well in the early season, though got few opportunities as the year progressed after the signing of Steffan Jones. The team needs experienced bowlers to get through an extensive fixture list and Hunter will rarely let the side down.
As for Lungley, he went to Lancashire for some cricket in mid/late season and did well, but he has an opportunity to cement a place in the side and must hope for better performances in 2010.
I'm sure that there will be different opinions on these signings, but at least we now have enough seamers - add Jones, Wagg and Clare to the names above - to be able to rotate the attack and keep them all fairly fresh.
Let me know your thoughts when you can. More from me later.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Comings and goings
The very title reminds me of one of my favourite cricket stories, from a few years back, when West Indian supporters threatened to boycott a Test match due to the fact that the Barbadian quick bowler Anderson Cummins had been omitted from the side at Bridgetown with Kenny Benjamin playing instead.
"No Cummins, no goings" said the banners. Priceless and inspired...
Anyway, there's been a few of them today, with Steve Adshead leaving Gloucestershire, as has been expected for some time. Destination Worcester, no doubt.
Elsewhere, Scott Newman has left Surrey, as was widely expected, to join Middlesex, as I reported a week or so back that he would. Meanwhile, what must be a revolving door at Lords got greater use as Nick Compton left to join Somerset.
I have to say the latter surprised me. Firstly as I didn't know Compton was on the move (he had a year left on his contract) but secondly because I thought he'd be a focal point of a planned Middlesex revival. I don't see Newman as the same sort of reliable batsman and having lost Billy Godleman to Essex, Middlesex must be hoping that their England trio of Strauss, Shah and Morgan are available a little more next year. At this stage they look very weak in batting and their bowling isn't especially strong, Murtagh apart.
Meanwhile, Warwickshire have signed Imran Tahir, who seems to be on a crusade to play for every county before 2020. The leggie has already played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Yorkshire and the Brummies see him as someone to help Ant Botha bowl sides out at Edgbaston. Good luck with that one, mate...
Warwickshire are also set to announce the signing of Varun Chopra, who was apparently unsettled at Essex. Chopra will cover the expected loss of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott to England and must be looking forward to boosting his average at the Birmingham featherbed.
Just in case anyone queries why we've not signed these guys, the answer is, of course, money. As well as making the world go round, it buys in players from other counties, even if they don't know they're unsettled. Somerset will have money to spare having released several players and with Justin Langer retired, while Warwickshire always have an edge financially. They always seem to have had since the 1970's, when they attracted the likes of Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran and Deryck Murray to the club, as well as Bob "the Moan" Willis.
Anyway, that's pretty much that for tonight. Still no signing news from the County Ground, but it just means that we can look forward to it a little longer!
"No Cummins, no goings" said the banners. Priceless and inspired...
Anyway, there's been a few of them today, with Steve Adshead leaving Gloucestershire, as has been expected for some time. Destination Worcester, no doubt.
Elsewhere, Scott Newman has left Surrey, as was widely expected, to join Middlesex, as I reported a week or so back that he would. Meanwhile, what must be a revolving door at Lords got greater use as Nick Compton left to join Somerset.
I have to say the latter surprised me. Firstly as I didn't know Compton was on the move (he had a year left on his contract) but secondly because I thought he'd be a focal point of a planned Middlesex revival. I don't see Newman as the same sort of reliable batsman and having lost Billy Godleman to Essex, Middlesex must be hoping that their England trio of Strauss, Shah and Morgan are available a little more next year. At this stage they look very weak in batting and their bowling isn't especially strong, Murtagh apart.
Meanwhile, Warwickshire have signed Imran Tahir, who seems to be on a crusade to play for every county before 2020. The leggie has already played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Yorkshire and the Brummies see him as someone to help Ant Botha bowl sides out at Edgbaston. Good luck with that one, mate...
Warwickshire are also set to announce the signing of Varun Chopra, who was apparently unsettled at Essex. Chopra will cover the expected loss of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott to England and must be looking forward to boosting his average at the Birmingham featherbed.
Just in case anyone queries why we've not signed these guys, the answer is, of course, money. As well as making the world go round, it buys in players from other counties, even if they don't know they're unsettled. Somerset will have money to spare having released several players and with Justin Langer retired, while Warwickshire always have an edge financially. They always seem to have had since the 1970's, when they attracted the likes of Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran and Deryck Murray to the club, as well as Bob "the Moan" Willis.
Anyway, that's pretty much that for tonight. Still no signing news from the County Ground, but it just means that we can look forward to it a little longer!
G'day Bozza!
Nice to read on the club site that Paul Borrington is off to Perth this winter to play for Midland Guilford, the club where Alec Stewart played with success. With Simon Katich, Tom Moody and Brendan Julian as former players he is obviously off to a good standard of cricket which can only be of benefit to him as he prepares for an important season in 2010.
Bozza has had a stop/start career with the club so far due to his studies at Loughborough University. Having now finished there, he is able to play cricket full time and was rewarded with a contract to 2012 by John Morris for some encouraging performances.
In 29 first class innings for Derbyshire and Loughborough UCCE he has managed two centuries and four fifties for a very respectable average of just under 35. He appears well balanced at the crease and nothing seems to faze him unduly. He is slight of build but not, by any means small at 5'10". An early reputation as a "sticker" with limited strokes has seen him play little one day cricket, but the signs are there that he is starting to go for his shots a little more after encouragement from John Morris. Indeed, a century for Loughborough last season saw him score 80-odd before lunch, pretty good going by any standards.
He comes from good cricketing stock of course, with his Dad, Tony a fixture in the Derbyshire side in the 1970's. At times Tony could look a good player and played some fine innings for the club, but never with quite the frequency to set him apart as a very good county cricketer. He was a similar height to Paul, but my memory suggests he was of sturdier build. He and Harry Cartwright were the young players in Eddie Barlow's era, both of them capable of batting with aggression, but also digging in when required. Tony managed three first class centuries for the club with another one day ton, something that his son will hope to pass, if only for bragging rights!
At this stage Paul looks a genuine prospect but next year is a big one for him. Free from studies, he can devote his energies to becoming the real deal and with the new quotas on age group players he will start the season as a favourite for a regular place.
Although an opening batsman, it is more likely (for me) that he will bat three for Derbyshire in 2010 as we have what looks like a tremendous pairing of Madsen and Rogers "up top". That could mean that Garry Park drops to five and leaves Greg Smith at four with Redfern at six, but it's all hypothetical at this stage.
A good winter in Australia should set him up nicely and I look forward to reporting on his form as the winter progresses.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Sunday, Sunday
So good to me...
With apologies to the Mamas and the Papas (and I know it was Monday they sang about!) today was leisurely.
Mrs Peakfan and daughter went to a Craft Fair in Glasgow while my son and I stayed home and watched a couple of films and played a game or two. Nice chillin' time, with nothing much to write about on the blog on a quiet day.
Thanks to those who have replied to my previous blog. I always appreciate you taking the time to mail in, even if I don't always agree with comments. One of these was from "Anon" and suggested that we make a move for Somerset cast-off Omari Banks.
In his favour is the fact that he is an off spinner and batsman and, as an ex-West Indies international also has a British passport as he hails, like Chesney Hughes, from Anguilla, a British protectorate.
On the downside is that he's struggled to make an impression at Taunton in two seasons, taking only seven wickets and scoring just one half century. If he was 21 you might still think he could improve, but Banks will be 28 when next season comes around and for me would add nothing to the mix.
I'd have to say I struggle to think who could come in with the age restrictions. The only name that I can think of is Mark Footitt, who left Nottinghamshire this season but is still only 23. He would represent a challenge to Steffan Jones as bowling and conditioning coach if we were interested, as he has had a lot of injuries, but his 23 first class wickets have come at the very good strike rate of 40 balls per wicket, which will attract a few counties.
That sprang out at me as I'm currently reading "Fred Titmus - my life in cricket" by the ex England and Middlesex spinner and Stafford Hildred. My wife bought it for me from the local Pound Shop (can't beat a bargain, eh?) In it, Titmus says that as a bowler he looked for a wicket every ten overs as a target and was pleased when he beat that. Now, Graham Wagg averages 54 balls per wicket, Groenewald 61, Lungley 49, Jones 63 (Taunton does that to a man) and Hunter 65. I can't say that I know who Footitt's wickets have come against, but a wicket every seven overs is a good strike rate.
I've said before that this will be a conjecture-free zone, but on those statistics I'd be surprised if someone doesn't give the left armer another chance. John Morris will rightly decide who comes to Derby and may well have someone lined up, but Footitt should get another crack at the County game in 2010, especially in the light of the new age regulations.
With apologies to the Mamas and the Papas (and I know it was Monday they sang about!) today was leisurely.
Mrs Peakfan and daughter went to a Craft Fair in Glasgow while my son and I stayed home and watched a couple of films and played a game or two. Nice chillin' time, with nothing much to write about on the blog on a quiet day.
Thanks to those who have replied to my previous blog. I always appreciate you taking the time to mail in, even if I don't always agree with comments. One of these was from "Anon" and suggested that we make a move for Somerset cast-off Omari Banks.
In his favour is the fact that he is an off spinner and batsman and, as an ex-West Indies international also has a British passport as he hails, like Chesney Hughes, from Anguilla, a British protectorate.
On the downside is that he's struggled to make an impression at Taunton in two seasons, taking only seven wickets and scoring just one half century. If he was 21 you might still think he could improve, but Banks will be 28 when next season comes around and for me would add nothing to the mix.
I'd have to say I struggle to think who could come in with the age restrictions. The only name that I can think of is Mark Footitt, who left Nottinghamshire this season but is still only 23. He would represent a challenge to Steffan Jones as bowling and conditioning coach if we were interested, as he has had a lot of injuries, but his 23 first class wickets have come at the very good strike rate of 40 balls per wicket, which will attract a few counties.
That sprang out at me as I'm currently reading "Fred Titmus - my life in cricket" by the ex England and Middlesex spinner and Stafford Hildred. My wife bought it for me from the local Pound Shop (can't beat a bargain, eh?) In it, Titmus says that as a bowler he looked for a wicket every ten overs as a target and was pleased when he beat that. Now, Graham Wagg averages 54 balls per wicket, Groenewald 61, Lungley 49, Jones 63 (Taunton does that to a man) and Hunter 65. I can't say that I know who Footitt's wickets have come against, but a wicket every seven overs is a good strike rate.
I've said before that this will be a conjecture-free zone, but on those statistics I'd be surprised if someone doesn't give the left armer another chance. John Morris will rightly decide who comes to Derby and may well have someone lined up, but Footitt should get another crack at the County game in 2010, especially in the light of the new age regulations.
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Weekend thoughts
Morning (or afternoon/evening) everyone - depends when you're reading this I suppose...
I'm writing on Saturday morning. Sorry there was no blog last night but I was out and about with Mrs Peakfan and a very nice time was had by all.
Truth be told, there was little to write yesterday, but there's a few titbits around this morning.
First up, the Derby Telegraph reports that Justin Langer is tipping Chris Rogers for an Australian recall. On the back of a superb season for Derbyshire that is no great surprise. While Shane Watson does a decent job in one day cricket, he's not a Test opener as was evident in the Ashes series. Indeed, I'd go as far as to say that had Australia had Chris Rogers in the side and Brett Lee fit, the Ashes would be on the other side of the world at the moment. Lee has bowled well since his return, while his all round performance for New South Wales yesterday as they beat Trinidad and Tobago was that of a man inspired. The latter never recovered from the loss of two quick wickets, but can be proud of their performances in the competition.
The Telegraph also reports the names of the fresh intake to the cricket club Academy. It's good to see that the hard graft goes on. If this quota system takes a hold, maybe the natural extension is to reward clubs playing an under 14 in their County first team with £100K. Pick a female in the side and get £150K. The potential is extraordinary. What price an over 50? Form an orderly queue behind me...
Anyway, the same article reports that two youngsters "graduating" from the Academy, namely Ben Slater and Matt Higginbottom, are likely to be rewarded with summer contracts in 2010. Slater, an opening batsman, looks like one to be watched as he was voted Academy player of the year. He averaged 86 for the Derbyshire Cricket Board Under 17s and thirty when opening the batting for Chesterfield in the Derbyshire Premier League. He sounds like a lad with a lot of potential and I'm sure he is in very good hands at the County Ground, where Andy Brown will know him from his time as coach at the Queens Park club. Meanwhile Higginbottom looks to have potential too and has turned in some good league performances with bat and ball, though in Second XI cricket he bats in the lower order.
It is good to see these youngsters progressing and I'm sure we all hope that recent graduates such as Atif Sheikh, Tom Whiteley and Paul Borrington continue to develop and push to join Dan Redfern in the First Eleven.
On the subject of youngsters, I notice that there is discussion on the "eligibility" of Chesney Hughes to be one of our under 22s in the coming season, the comments centring around the use of a phrase on the club site about the talented all rounder. What it says is that he is "Anguillan born but able to play on these shores without restriction due his ownership of a British passport".
What this means is that he can indeed play for Derbyshire whenever we wish, but the reality is that, until he qualifies to play for England, which is a few years away, it will cost us money every time that he does so. Without his passport he couldn't play - period - as he wouldn't get a visa to enable him to do so. Chesney has a British passport as Anguilla is a British colony.
He will qualify for the national side when he is 22, which would leave him plenty of time to make a major contribution to the club, but not as one who would earn them money as one of the under 22s in the side.
Derbyshire are already going to take a "hit" financially as counties will be expected to field three additional players under the age of 26. By the time next season starts, the only ones we will have in that age bracket will be Jake Needham and Jon Clare, neither of them fixtures in the side this year. So if John Morris decides to field his strongest side, and in doing so decides to omit Clare, Needham and Borrington, there will be severe financial penalties.
I think Borrington will be good enough for the first team. Redfern obviously is, but with only two others under 26 at present, we will face a financial penalty every time we take the field as, at present, we are one short. As things stand, the obvious Under 22s for our side next season will be Redfern and Borrington, with Sheikh and Poynton the options if required.
It is worth noting that these regulations apply to the County Championship and the 40-over competition, but not the Twenty/20. The reality is, however, that a tight financial situation has been complicated all the more. Remember too that playing players from these age groups does not earn the clubs extra money, this will effectively dictate their payout. So if we, or any other county choose to ignore the regulations, we would not get the cash, end of story.
If nothing else, I hope that fans realise the pressures that John Morris will face in 2010. Not only does he have to try to field a side to win matches, he has to do so with a side that will not lead to the club losing out on a substantial part of their ECB money.
Not, by any stretch of the imagination, an easy job.
I'm writing on Saturday morning. Sorry there was no blog last night but I was out and about with Mrs Peakfan and a very nice time was had by all.
Truth be told, there was little to write yesterday, but there's a few titbits around this morning.
First up, the Derby Telegraph reports that Justin Langer is tipping Chris Rogers for an Australian recall. On the back of a superb season for Derbyshire that is no great surprise. While Shane Watson does a decent job in one day cricket, he's not a Test opener as was evident in the Ashes series. Indeed, I'd go as far as to say that had Australia had Chris Rogers in the side and Brett Lee fit, the Ashes would be on the other side of the world at the moment. Lee has bowled well since his return, while his all round performance for New South Wales yesterday as they beat Trinidad and Tobago was that of a man inspired. The latter never recovered from the loss of two quick wickets, but can be proud of their performances in the competition.
The Telegraph also reports the names of the fresh intake to the cricket club Academy. It's good to see that the hard graft goes on. If this quota system takes a hold, maybe the natural extension is to reward clubs playing an under 14 in their County first team with £100K. Pick a female in the side and get £150K. The potential is extraordinary. What price an over 50? Form an orderly queue behind me...
Anyway, the same article reports that two youngsters "graduating" from the Academy, namely Ben Slater and Matt Higginbottom, are likely to be rewarded with summer contracts in 2010. Slater, an opening batsman, looks like one to be watched as he was voted Academy player of the year. He averaged 86 for the Derbyshire Cricket Board Under 17s and thirty when opening the batting for Chesterfield in the Derbyshire Premier League. He sounds like a lad with a lot of potential and I'm sure he is in very good hands at the County Ground, where Andy Brown will know him from his time as coach at the Queens Park club. Meanwhile Higginbottom looks to have potential too and has turned in some good league performances with bat and ball, though in Second XI cricket he bats in the lower order.
It is good to see these youngsters progressing and I'm sure we all hope that recent graduates such as Atif Sheikh, Tom Whiteley and Paul Borrington continue to develop and push to join Dan Redfern in the First Eleven.
On the subject of youngsters, I notice that there is discussion on the "eligibility" of Chesney Hughes to be one of our under 22s in the coming season, the comments centring around the use of a phrase on the club site about the talented all rounder. What it says is that he is "Anguillan born but able to play on these shores without restriction due his ownership of a British passport".
What this means is that he can indeed play for Derbyshire whenever we wish, but the reality is that, until he qualifies to play for England, which is a few years away, it will cost us money every time that he does so. Without his passport he couldn't play - period - as he wouldn't get a visa to enable him to do so. Chesney has a British passport as Anguilla is a British colony.
He will qualify for the national side when he is 22, which would leave him plenty of time to make a major contribution to the club, but not as one who would earn them money as one of the under 22s in the side.
Derbyshire are already going to take a "hit" financially as counties will be expected to field three additional players under the age of 26. By the time next season starts, the only ones we will have in that age bracket will be Jake Needham and Jon Clare, neither of them fixtures in the side this year. So if John Morris decides to field his strongest side, and in doing so decides to omit Clare, Needham and Borrington, there will be severe financial penalties.
I think Borrington will be good enough for the first team. Redfern obviously is, but with only two others under 26 at present, we will face a financial penalty every time we take the field as, at present, we are one short. As things stand, the obvious Under 22s for our side next season will be Redfern and Borrington, with Sheikh and Poynton the options if required.
It is worth noting that these regulations apply to the County Championship and the 40-over competition, but not the Twenty/20. The reality is, however, that a tight financial situation has been complicated all the more. Remember too that playing players from these age groups does not earn the clubs extra money, this will effectively dictate their payout. So if we, or any other county choose to ignore the regulations, we would not get the cash, end of story.
If nothing else, I hope that fans realise the pressures that John Morris will face in 2010. Not only does he have to try to field a side to win matches, he has to do so with a side that will not lead to the club losing out on a substantial part of their ECB money.
Not, by any stretch of the imagination, an easy job.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Comments from the boards
There's a few ideas and comments around the message boards today and I'm duty bound to give you my thoughts on them!
First up, there are suggestions that we should make a move for Jason Brown, just released from Nottinghamshire. Have to say that I don't go with that one myself. Brown has been a decent bowler and has taken a number of wickets over the years for Northamptonshire, but I would be surprised - no, make that astonished - if he was the answer to our search for a spinner. I could understand a move for James Middlebrook, as he would bring a few runs and decent fielding to the mix, but Brown is a bowler - period. I don't think he is what we need at present and - well, you know my feelings now.
Another comment suggested that we make a move for Chris Schofield now that Surrey have signed Piyush Chawla and Gareth Batty. I'd see that one as very unlikely. One is that he is not a good enough spinner. He was voted the Surrey Professional Cricketers Association Most Valuable Player (rolls off the tongue that one) and is a decent player as a batsman who takes a few wickets, but not as a specialist spinner. As such he will almost certainly be under contract and I would have thought would make their team as a third spinner even when the others were in the side. I can't think he'd rush to sign for a county who declined the chance to sign him when he trialled here either. No, just don't see this working guys.
Another comment suggested that while an outstanding batsman, Chris Rogers isn't a brilliant captain. I would agree, but would say that he was a solid skipper who may continue to improve with experience. Outstanding captains are, understandably, a rare breed. I can think back to Eddie Barlow, Mike Brearley and Ray Illingworth as captains of real brilliance. Others, like Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor, Clive Lloyd and Jeremy Coney were good - very good - skippers who had a strong set of players, which always helps. I reckon I could have captained the West Indies of the late 1970's and 1980's to success. Bowl two quicks, change them after six overs each for two more and repeat until the end of the day. I know that does Clive Lloyd a disservice as a fine player, but I hope you take my point.
Kim Barnett was a decent skipper, but had some good players under him for a lot of his tenure. Barlow took some very average players and turned them into cricketers. Harry Cartwright, Tony Borrington, Phil Russell, Ashley Harvey-Walker, Fred Swarbrook and Colin Tunnicliffe were moulded into good players who knew their role in the side and took inspiration from a skipper who produced moments of magic from nowhere.
Rogers is skipper of a young side who will benefit from his performances. His batting last season was an object lesson in quality and a skipper who sets good examples is better than one who doesn't. When things weren't going our way in the field, Barlow could take the ball and produce a golden spell, something beyond Rogers' expertise. Then again, Barlow also had Mike Hendrick and Geoff Miller in his side, bowlers of very good quality. Rogers doesn't have that luxury at this stage, but who knows what the future may bring?
No, Rogers is perhaps not YET an outstanding captain, but he needs a more experienced side to help him to get there. What he is, beyond doubt, is an outstanding batsman, a totally committed professional and a man who will grow with the role, beyond any doubt the best option that is available to us.
Elsewhere today, Trinidad and Tobago reached the final of the T20 with an impressive batting display against Cape Cobras. I was again impressed (fleetingly) with the 19 year old opener Barath, while Dwayne Bravo showed what a terrific cricketer he is, especially in the short games. I'd be astonished if he wasn't in our Twenty/20 this summer for one county or another, together with his colleague Keiron Pollard.
It was nice to see Charl Langeveldt back bowling for the Cobras, but he could do little to stem the tide as Bravo and his team mates batted beautifully. Nonetheless, Charl was by a distance the Cobras best bowler. He's still as good a one day bowler as there is, in my opinion, though I'd have to say that Justin Ontong had a bit of a nightmare game, batting, bowling and fielding.
For the record, when I bracketed him with AB de Villiers as a "Monopoly Money" signing for Twenty/20, I meant that he was a cheaper alternative, not remotely in the league of the Proteas star batsman.
After today I'm reckoning his price will have gone down a bit, while Dwayne's will almost certainly have increased.
You can only say Bravo to that....
First up, there are suggestions that we should make a move for Jason Brown, just released from Nottinghamshire. Have to say that I don't go with that one myself. Brown has been a decent bowler and has taken a number of wickets over the years for Northamptonshire, but I would be surprised - no, make that astonished - if he was the answer to our search for a spinner. I could understand a move for James Middlebrook, as he would bring a few runs and decent fielding to the mix, but Brown is a bowler - period. I don't think he is what we need at present and - well, you know my feelings now.
Another comment suggested that we make a move for Chris Schofield now that Surrey have signed Piyush Chawla and Gareth Batty. I'd see that one as very unlikely. One is that he is not a good enough spinner. He was voted the Surrey Professional Cricketers Association Most Valuable Player (rolls off the tongue that one) and is a decent player as a batsman who takes a few wickets, but not as a specialist spinner. As such he will almost certainly be under contract and I would have thought would make their team as a third spinner even when the others were in the side. I can't think he'd rush to sign for a county who declined the chance to sign him when he trialled here either. No, just don't see this working guys.
Another comment suggested that while an outstanding batsman, Chris Rogers isn't a brilliant captain. I would agree, but would say that he was a solid skipper who may continue to improve with experience. Outstanding captains are, understandably, a rare breed. I can think back to Eddie Barlow, Mike Brearley and Ray Illingworth as captains of real brilliance. Others, like Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor, Clive Lloyd and Jeremy Coney were good - very good - skippers who had a strong set of players, which always helps. I reckon I could have captained the West Indies of the late 1970's and 1980's to success. Bowl two quicks, change them after six overs each for two more and repeat until the end of the day. I know that does Clive Lloyd a disservice as a fine player, but I hope you take my point.
Kim Barnett was a decent skipper, but had some good players under him for a lot of his tenure. Barlow took some very average players and turned them into cricketers. Harry Cartwright, Tony Borrington, Phil Russell, Ashley Harvey-Walker, Fred Swarbrook and Colin Tunnicliffe were moulded into good players who knew their role in the side and took inspiration from a skipper who produced moments of magic from nowhere.
Rogers is skipper of a young side who will benefit from his performances. His batting last season was an object lesson in quality and a skipper who sets good examples is better than one who doesn't. When things weren't going our way in the field, Barlow could take the ball and produce a golden spell, something beyond Rogers' expertise. Then again, Barlow also had Mike Hendrick and Geoff Miller in his side, bowlers of very good quality. Rogers doesn't have that luxury at this stage, but who knows what the future may bring?
No, Rogers is perhaps not YET an outstanding captain, but he needs a more experienced side to help him to get there. What he is, beyond doubt, is an outstanding batsman, a totally committed professional and a man who will grow with the role, beyond any doubt the best option that is available to us.
Elsewhere today, Trinidad and Tobago reached the final of the T20 with an impressive batting display against Cape Cobras. I was again impressed (fleetingly) with the 19 year old opener Barath, while Dwayne Bravo showed what a terrific cricketer he is, especially in the short games. I'd be astonished if he wasn't in our Twenty/20 this summer for one county or another, together with his colleague Keiron Pollard.
It was nice to see Charl Langeveldt back bowling for the Cobras, but he could do little to stem the tide as Bravo and his team mates batted beautifully. Nonetheless, Charl was by a distance the Cobras best bowler. He's still as good a one day bowler as there is, in my opinion, though I'd have to say that Justin Ontong had a bit of a nightmare game, batting, bowling and fielding.
For the record, when I bracketed him with AB de Villiers as a "Monopoly Money" signing for Twenty/20, I meant that he was a cheaper alternative, not remotely in the league of the Proteas star batsman.
After today I'm reckoning his price will have gone down a bit, while Dwayne's will almost certainly have increased.
You can only say Bravo to that....
Great news on the skipper
Although it has been on the cards for a few weeks, the confirmation that Chris Rogers will be returning to Derbyshire next season is probably the best news that fans will have this winter.
Whatever happens in the next few months, the return of our captain and opening batsman gives as close to a guarantee of a thousand runs next year as it is possible to get.
Rogers exceeded two thousand in all competitions this year by some margin and in the process showed that the suggestion he cannot play one-day cricket is nonsense. Though not a regular in that game back home, Rogers averaged over sixty in the 40 and 50 over competitions while his Championship average was over 70 and the second highest in the club’s history.
Only in the 20-over game did his average drop to that of mere mortals. Far be it from me to offer advice to a man of his abilities, but if Buck simply concentrated on batting the overs in that game, rather than going for big shots, he’d score a weight of runs in that too. He is, in short, a player of great class.
Let’s not forget that he arrived late and but for that may well have gone past 2,500 runs in 2009. A total professional, we are very fortunate to have him at Derby and I’m sure that most fans hope he gets another chance with the national side this winter. Should he do so, Rogers could then play for us beyond next season.
Given the difficulties in sourcing full-season overseas professionals these days (especially ones of the highest class), that can only be a good thing.
Who knows? At his rate of scoring in 2009, next season he could easily make his 21st century for us.
Buck Rogers. Twenty first century. Did you see what I did there?
Yeah, it was quite poor. See you later.
Whatever happens in the next few months, the return of our captain and opening batsman gives as close to a guarantee of a thousand runs next year as it is possible to get.
Rogers exceeded two thousand in all competitions this year by some margin and in the process showed that the suggestion he cannot play one-day cricket is nonsense. Though not a regular in that game back home, Rogers averaged over sixty in the 40 and 50 over competitions while his Championship average was over 70 and the second highest in the club’s history.
Only in the 20-over game did his average drop to that of mere mortals. Far be it from me to offer advice to a man of his abilities, but if Buck simply concentrated on batting the overs in that game, rather than going for big shots, he’d score a weight of runs in that too. He is, in short, a player of great class.
Let’s not forget that he arrived late and but for that may well have gone past 2,500 runs in 2009. A total professional, we are very fortunate to have him at Derby and I’m sure that most fans hope he gets another chance with the national side this winter. Should he do so, Rogers could then play for us beyond next season.
Given the difficulties in sourcing full-season overseas professionals these days (especially ones of the highest class), that can only be a good thing.
Who knows? At his rate of scoring in 2009, next season he could easily make his 21st century for us.
Buck Rogers. Twenty first century. Did you see what I did there?
Yeah, it was quite poor. See you later.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
More on Steffan...
There’s been a couple of comments on my lunchtime article earlier today on the return of Steffan Jones. See how dedicated I am? As Whitney Houston once sang - I'm saving all my lunch for youuuuuuuuuuuuu....
One asked what had happened to Derbyshire’s fitness coach and I have to say I don’t know. What I will say is that fitness and physical conditioning for bowling all day are probably two different things. I would have thought that Steffan and the fitness coach Julian Calefato could work closely together. I dare say that is something that will emerge when the news breaks from the club.
The other question is how Jones can combine being a full time cricketer, conditioning and bowling coach. Again, the club may have more to say on that one, but I wouldn’t have thought the tasks especially onerous.
My thoughts would be that the bulk of the conditioning work – establishing the principles for bowlers to follow and so forth – would be done pre-season anyway. Once the cricket starts is when the conditioning work is seen to best effect and from then on it is a case of individuals maintaining their exercise regime. The coaching would be straightforward to do during practice sessions and Jones knows his own game well enough to be able to combine the two.
There would be an element of irony if he broke down next year, but I’d be confident he can handle this, as John Morris undoubtedly is.
John grew up in a Derbyshire side where seamers were rotated to keep them fresh and I don’t see that changing next year. The key to that, of course, is having enough guys fit enough to rotate, but Jones will not play all of the matches, any more than the others will do. As Kim Barnett proved with Holding, Malcolm, Bishop, Mortensen, Warner and Newman, the way to have your quickies firing in September is to rest them when there is an opportunity throughout the season.
It is an excellent signing and a sensible move. Jones is a highly respected and popular cricketer and, like James Pipe, can move on to the next stage of his career in an environment where he will be comfortable.
Finally for now, Mastervillain asks if I have something else in mind over the spinner that we so obviously need. Not really, but with the new regulations I just cannot see us signing Jason Brown.
If we were going to sign Middlebrook we may well have done so by now and I think Monty Panesar is out of our price range. Like Baldrick in Blackadder, John Morris may well have a cunning plan and we'll all have to wait to see if that is the case.
Maybe Venkat's coming back...
One asked what had happened to Derbyshire’s fitness coach and I have to say I don’t know. What I will say is that fitness and physical conditioning for bowling all day are probably two different things. I would have thought that Steffan and the fitness coach Julian Calefato could work closely together. I dare say that is something that will emerge when the news breaks from the club.
The other question is how Jones can combine being a full time cricketer, conditioning and bowling coach. Again, the club may have more to say on that one, but I wouldn’t have thought the tasks especially onerous.
My thoughts would be that the bulk of the conditioning work – establishing the principles for bowlers to follow and so forth – would be done pre-season anyway. Once the cricket starts is when the conditioning work is seen to best effect and from then on it is a case of individuals maintaining their exercise regime. The coaching would be straightforward to do during practice sessions and Jones knows his own game well enough to be able to combine the two.
There would be an element of irony if he broke down next year, but I’d be confident he can handle this, as John Morris undoubtedly is.
John grew up in a Derbyshire side where seamers were rotated to keep them fresh and I don’t see that changing next year. The key to that, of course, is having enough guys fit enough to rotate, but Jones will not play all of the matches, any more than the others will do. As Kim Barnett proved with Holding, Malcolm, Bishop, Mortensen, Warner and Newman, the way to have your quickies firing in September is to rest them when there is an opportunity throughout the season.
It is an excellent signing and a sensible move. Jones is a highly respected and popular cricketer and, like James Pipe, can move on to the next stage of his career in an environment where he will be comfortable.
Finally for now, Mastervillain asks if I have something else in mind over the spinner that we so obviously need. Not really, but with the new regulations I just cannot see us signing Jason Brown.
If we were going to sign Middlebrook we may well have done so by now and I think Monty Panesar is out of our price range. Like Baldrick in Blackadder, John Morris may well have a cunning plan and we'll all have to wait to see if that is the case.
Maybe Venkat's coming back...
The Jones boy is back - for good!
There will be few Derbyshire fans that are not pleased at the news, broken in the Bristol Evening Post today, that Steffan Jones is set to sign a two-year deal with us for 2010-11. No doubt the news will be on the club site in the near future, but as they say on the X Files – the truth is out there!
Furthermore, Jones is signing a contract that gives him additional responsibilities as the bowling and fitness/conditioning coach.
There has been considerable discussion on fans bulletin boards in recent months on whether the lack of a bowling coach was a factor in some erratic bowling, especially in one-day matches. I cannot believe that anyone would deny that our batting last year was substantially improved on recent years in all forms of the game. John Morris and Andy Brown deserve full credit for instilling sound principles into what is essentially a young and relatively inexperienced batting side.
It was interesting listening to Morris commenting on the recent Club Twenty/20 finals day on the art of twenty over batting. Aim for four every ball, if you can’t get four, get a two, if you can’t get two, get a single and rotate the strike. Common sense it may be, but an approach that was lacking in previous seasons. As I wrote the other night, 150 in a 20-over game should be challenging if you bowl properly, which is where Steffan will come in.
Far too often in one-day games our bowlers have been guilty of bowling a length, which is hittable. The successful bowlers in the World T20 showed that you either have to bowl very full or just back of a length to make the batsman’s job much harder. It is very difficult to get under a ball to lever it for six if it is right up in the block hole and Steffan Jones has shown, especially in the latter part of his career, that he is adept at putting the ball in the right places. If he can pass those skills on to younger players he will do a very good job.
Then there is the conditioning role. Our bowlers have suffered a number of injuries in recent seasons. Ton Lungley has had an assortment of niggles, Jon Clare missed a lot of the last campaign and even that most willing of workhorses Graham Wagg missed cricket last year. If they are all fit and firing, I think our seam attack is among the best in Division Two, with only Gloucestershire (Kirby/Lewis/Franklin) of the same quality. We missed Langeveldt last year, but Jones, Groenewald, Lungley, Wagg, Clare and Hunter, backed up by Greg Smith comprises a pretty good line up.
If we assume that Lungley and Groenewald will sign new deals for 2010 (and there’s been nothing to suggest otherwise) and with Atif Sheikh and Ross Whiteley coming through, Derbyshire don’t lack seam bowling options. If Jones can keep them fit and firing we will be more than competitive, especially if a quality spinner can be added to the mix.
Which leaves, of course, Jones the bowler. Nothing in his bowling last season suggested a spent force, as he bowled with heart, energy and considerable skill to revitalise an attack that was struggling with injuries.
If I was honest, from a career point of view Steffan should never have left Derbyshire. His success in 2006 suggested there was much more to come, but he never became a regular at Taunton, nor could he have enjoyed bowling on the most batsman-friendly tracks in the game. He left for family reasons and I would never criticise anyone for that, but at the end of his career, he will probably be 50-100 wickets short of what he would have achieved at Derby.
Still, that’s history. The Jones boy is back. A fine bowler and a fine man. I remember in his first stint with us sending a question into the club site about how he kept himself fit, as I was at that time struggling with a back injury of my own that stopped me doing so in matches.
He replied in considerable detail on how it was important to have a strong “core” and kindly offered to meet me the next time I was at the Ground to show me some exercises that would help me to strengthen the weakened area and return to bowling.
I never got the chance to take him up on that kind offer but did source local classes on core strengthening that helped immensely.
So thanks for that Steffan and a sincere welcome back to Derby. We’ve missed you, but it’s great to have you back!
Furthermore, Jones is signing a contract that gives him additional responsibilities as the bowling and fitness/conditioning coach.
There has been considerable discussion on fans bulletin boards in recent months on whether the lack of a bowling coach was a factor in some erratic bowling, especially in one-day matches. I cannot believe that anyone would deny that our batting last year was substantially improved on recent years in all forms of the game. John Morris and Andy Brown deserve full credit for instilling sound principles into what is essentially a young and relatively inexperienced batting side.
It was interesting listening to Morris commenting on the recent Club Twenty/20 finals day on the art of twenty over batting. Aim for four every ball, if you can’t get four, get a two, if you can’t get two, get a single and rotate the strike. Common sense it may be, but an approach that was lacking in previous seasons. As I wrote the other night, 150 in a 20-over game should be challenging if you bowl properly, which is where Steffan will come in.
Far too often in one-day games our bowlers have been guilty of bowling a length, which is hittable. The successful bowlers in the World T20 showed that you either have to bowl very full or just back of a length to make the batsman’s job much harder. It is very difficult to get under a ball to lever it for six if it is right up in the block hole and Steffan Jones has shown, especially in the latter part of his career, that he is adept at putting the ball in the right places. If he can pass those skills on to younger players he will do a very good job.
Then there is the conditioning role. Our bowlers have suffered a number of injuries in recent seasons. Ton Lungley has had an assortment of niggles, Jon Clare missed a lot of the last campaign and even that most willing of workhorses Graham Wagg missed cricket last year. If they are all fit and firing, I think our seam attack is among the best in Division Two, with only Gloucestershire (Kirby/Lewis/Franklin) of the same quality. We missed Langeveldt last year, but Jones, Groenewald, Lungley, Wagg, Clare and Hunter, backed up by Greg Smith comprises a pretty good line up.
If we assume that Lungley and Groenewald will sign new deals for 2010 (and there’s been nothing to suggest otherwise) and with Atif Sheikh and Ross Whiteley coming through, Derbyshire don’t lack seam bowling options. If Jones can keep them fit and firing we will be more than competitive, especially if a quality spinner can be added to the mix.
Which leaves, of course, Jones the bowler. Nothing in his bowling last season suggested a spent force, as he bowled with heart, energy and considerable skill to revitalise an attack that was struggling with injuries.
If I was honest, from a career point of view Steffan should never have left Derbyshire. His success in 2006 suggested there was much more to come, but he never became a regular at Taunton, nor could he have enjoyed bowling on the most batsman-friendly tracks in the game. He left for family reasons and I would never criticise anyone for that, but at the end of his career, he will probably be 50-100 wickets short of what he would have achieved at Derby.
Still, that’s history. The Jones boy is back. A fine bowler and a fine man. I remember in his first stint with us sending a question into the club site about how he kept himself fit, as I was at that time struggling with a back injury of my own that stopped me doing so in matches.
He replied in considerable detail on how it was important to have a strong “core” and kindly offered to meet me the next time I was at the Ground to show me some exercises that would help me to strengthen the weakened area and return to bowling.
I never got the chance to take him up on that kind offer but did source local classes on core strengthening that helped immensely.
So thanks for that Steffan and a sincere welcome back to Derby. We’ve missed you, but it’s great to have you back!
News at last
Anyone wanting a little heartening news about Derbyshire could do much worse than follow this link to the Bristol Evening Post
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/somersetccc/Long-serving-Jones-sad-wave-farewell-Somerset/article-1437962-detail/article.html?
This is excellent news, in my humble opinion! More later
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/somersetccc/Long-serving-Jones-sad-wave-farewell-Somerset/article-1437962-detail/article.html?
This is excellent news, in my humble opinion! More later
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
More on that overseas berth...
Thanks to DCCC Forever for coming up with the name of JP Duminy as an overseas player that Derbyshire should go for in the Twenty/20 competition this year, which is to be sponsored by Friends Provident and has been cunningly called the Friends Provident T20.
I couldn’t argue. He’s a player I would love to see in Derbyshire colours. I think South Africans give good value for money and Duminy is a very fine cricketer.
I also agree that if we are going to fill, or part fill the additional 2,000 seats to be installed over the winter, we’ll need to get someone who will help towards that. Better results will do us no harm, but with an extended competition in 2010 we want to be making a better fist of it than in recent years.
Another problem, other than those I highlighted yesterday, is that it is not yet known if this second overseas role has to satisfy the criteria for overseas and Kolpak recruits. If there is no restriction the field opens up for a lot of good players, but otherwise the competition for those who satisfy the criteria and want to come is going to be huge. And guess what? Money will talk…
I’ve read that Somerset have approached Graeme Smith, while Herschelle Gibbs may well be back at Glamorgan. I don’t think Jacques Kallis is especially suited to this form of the game, but he is a fine player.
The Morkel brothers are both good cricketers, though the fast bowling Morne seems to have had a bad patch of late. His all rounder brother Albie would be an asset, but he too may well be set for a return to a previous stomping ground at Durham.
In an ideal world I could use some of my millions (we’re talking Monopoly money here guys, not reality!) to finance a player for the club from that neck of the woods. In that case I’d be tempted to sign AB de Villiers. I think he’s a superb batsman and a brilliant fielder. Another I might consider would be Justin Ontong, a hard-hitting batsman and useful off spinner, as well as being another superb fielder.
The thing is, it is generally accepted that, with a few exceptions, batsmen are the crowd-pullers, but based on the Twenty/20 season just finished, there would be a strong argument for Derbyshire to sign a bowler who could put the ball on a length. In most matches we posted decent scores yet gave it away by shocking bowling in the first half dozen overs of the reply. If you score 150 in 20 overs you have a good chance, but not if your bowlers then go for 70 in the first six.
That being the case and assuming that he was fit, available and satisfied the requirements, there would be a strong argument for re-engaging Charl Langeveldt. You know with Charl that you will get 24 balls to test the opposition. He would be two years older and have lost a little more pace, but Langers was our “go to” bowler. In (almost) the words of Billy Ocean, when the going got tough, Langers got going…
Many will remember a similar role being played by Michael Holding back in the 1980’s. Kim Barnett’s job was made much easier by the legendary West Indian coming back to make the batsmen work for their runs. Or just getting them out…
I’m not sure if Langeveldt would put “bums on seats” as a big-hitting batsman would do, but he would probably help us to win as many, if not more games, assuming our batsmen continued their 2009 improvement in the short form. A winning side at any sport will always attract bigger crowds and Derbyshire are due a decent run in the Twenty/20.
Yet fantasy is all it is and all it can be for now. Conjecture of any kind, without knowing what we have available financially, who is available and who wants to come is pointless. We may as well say we’ll take Keith Miller as our second player and we’re signing Eddie Barlow on a Kolpak deal.
Hmmm. If John Morris pulled THAT one off I’d be at every game!
I couldn’t argue. He’s a player I would love to see in Derbyshire colours. I think South Africans give good value for money and Duminy is a very fine cricketer.
I also agree that if we are going to fill, or part fill the additional 2,000 seats to be installed over the winter, we’ll need to get someone who will help towards that. Better results will do us no harm, but with an extended competition in 2010 we want to be making a better fist of it than in recent years.
Another problem, other than those I highlighted yesterday, is that it is not yet known if this second overseas role has to satisfy the criteria for overseas and Kolpak recruits. If there is no restriction the field opens up for a lot of good players, but otherwise the competition for those who satisfy the criteria and want to come is going to be huge. And guess what? Money will talk…
I’ve read that Somerset have approached Graeme Smith, while Herschelle Gibbs may well be back at Glamorgan. I don’t think Jacques Kallis is especially suited to this form of the game, but he is a fine player.
The Morkel brothers are both good cricketers, though the fast bowling Morne seems to have had a bad patch of late. His all rounder brother Albie would be an asset, but he too may well be set for a return to a previous stomping ground at Durham.
In an ideal world I could use some of my millions (we’re talking Monopoly money here guys, not reality!) to finance a player for the club from that neck of the woods. In that case I’d be tempted to sign AB de Villiers. I think he’s a superb batsman and a brilliant fielder. Another I might consider would be Justin Ontong, a hard-hitting batsman and useful off spinner, as well as being another superb fielder.
The thing is, it is generally accepted that, with a few exceptions, batsmen are the crowd-pullers, but based on the Twenty/20 season just finished, there would be a strong argument for Derbyshire to sign a bowler who could put the ball on a length. In most matches we posted decent scores yet gave it away by shocking bowling in the first half dozen overs of the reply. If you score 150 in 20 overs you have a good chance, but not if your bowlers then go for 70 in the first six.
That being the case and assuming that he was fit, available and satisfied the requirements, there would be a strong argument for re-engaging Charl Langeveldt. You know with Charl that you will get 24 balls to test the opposition. He would be two years older and have lost a little more pace, but Langers was our “go to” bowler. In (almost) the words of Billy Ocean, when the going got tough, Langers got going…
Many will remember a similar role being played by Michael Holding back in the 1980’s. Kim Barnett’s job was made much easier by the legendary West Indian coming back to make the batsmen work for their runs. Or just getting them out…
I’m not sure if Langeveldt would put “bums on seats” as a big-hitting batsman would do, but he would probably help us to win as many, if not more games, assuming our batsmen continued their 2009 improvement in the short form. A winning side at any sport will always attract bigger crowds and Derbyshire are due a decent run in the Twenty/20.
Yet fantasy is all it is and all it can be for now. Conjecture of any kind, without knowing what we have available financially, who is available and who wants to come is pointless. We may as well say we’ll take Keith Miller as our second player and we’re signing Eddie Barlow on a Kolpak deal.
Hmmm. If John Morris pulled THAT one off I’d be at every game!
Monday, 19 October 2009
2nd overseas slot a problem
Thanks to all those who responded via the blog and through e mails to my piece on "Being a Fan" the other day. It turns out that Derbyshire have at least one follower in Australia, one in New Zealand and another in the USA. All of a sudden I feel like a local...
Thanks also to DCCC Forever for his suggestion of starting a thread on who will be our second overseas player in the Twenty/20. However, at this time, I'm going to decline and leave that one for a little further down the line.
It would be very easy of me to suggest that we should sign Shahid Afridi or Cameron White or Kieron Pollard. Indeed any one of around a dozen names could easily come to my lips, I won't do it at this stage however, for two very good reasons.
One is that we don't know if Derbyshire will have the money for one, or if we do, how much money we have available. There's no point hypothesising about the names above, all of whom would cost serious money, when our horizons may need to be considerably lowered.
The other is that at this stage no one has a clue about who is available. We know, because their players will be in the UK for international commitments, that you can effectively rule out the top Australians and Pakistanis. The World Twenty/20 doesn't finish in the Caribbean until May 16th and then there's suggestions that Sri Lanka, India and possibly New Zealand may be involved in a tournament in Dubai or somesuch. That doesn't leave many options, does it?
With the proliferation of training camps added in, I genuinely don't think there's any point in starting conjecture that will probably come to naught. As I've said before, I'm confident that John Morris will, if the money is available, come up with a very good player for us. I've little doubt that he is perhaps putting out feelers at this stage, but we can all recall premature plans that were dashed by revised fixtures and injuries. Hands up those who remember Jacques Rudolph, Mahela Jayawardena, James Hopes and Mohammad Yousuf?
Having said that, feel free to drop me a line with YOUR choice, DCCC Forever, or anyone else for that matter. I'm always delighted to hear from fellow fans and who they'd like to see in the club colours.
But just remember, there's a lot of factors will have to come into play first.
Thanks also to DCCC Forever for his suggestion of starting a thread on who will be our second overseas player in the Twenty/20. However, at this time, I'm going to decline and leave that one for a little further down the line.
It would be very easy of me to suggest that we should sign Shahid Afridi or Cameron White or Kieron Pollard. Indeed any one of around a dozen names could easily come to my lips, I won't do it at this stage however, for two very good reasons.
One is that we don't know if Derbyshire will have the money for one, or if we do, how much money we have available. There's no point hypothesising about the names above, all of whom would cost serious money, when our horizons may need to be considerably lowered.
The other is that at this stage no one has a clue about who is available. We know, because their players will be in the UK for international commitments, that you can effectively rule out the top Australians and Pakistanis. The World Twenty/20 doesn't finish in the Caribbean until May 16th and then there's suggestions that Sri Lanka, India and possibly New Zealand may be involved in a tournament in Dubai or somesuch. That doesn't leave many options, does it?
With the proliferation of training camps added in, I genuinely don't think there's any point in starting conjecture that will probably come to naught. As I've said before, I'm confident that John Morris will, if the money is available, come up with a very good player for us. I've little doubt that he is perhaps putting out feelers at this stage, but we can all recall premature plans that were dashed by revised fixtures and injuries. Hands up those who remember Jacques Rudolph, Mahela Jayawardena, James Hopes and Mohammad Yousuf?
Having said that, feel free to drop me a line with YOUR choice, DCCC Forever, or anyone else for that matter. I'm always delighted to hear from fellow fans and who they'd like to see in the club colours.
But just remember, there's a lot of factors will have to come into play first.
So what do you think?
The new ECB40 competition draw has been favourable to us, in my humble opinion.
As I reported in my "12 minute lunchtime special", dashed off earlier while I ate my delicious sandwiches (thanks Mrs Peakfan) we've got a decent draw.
For those who don't know, this competition is to be played on a home and away basis, so that will be 12 games in total. The three group winners then qualify for the semi finals, together with the best of the three group runners-up.
So, having had my hopes of a trip to Edinburgh dashed, I now console myself with the thought that maybe, just maybe, the game against Yorkshire will be played at Scarborough. One of my few remaining cricket ambitions is to see Derbyshire play there. I gave up on one of them a long time ago, which was playing for the hallowed XI.
Even for a county who at one time specialised in recruiting old, almost retired players from elsewhere (Clive Inman, Fred Trueman, Fred Rumsey, Ron Headley) an opportunity for Peakfan to strut his stuff in Derbyshire colours is probably past at this stage. I've even stopped sticking my gear in the back of the car, just in case...
Seriously though, I'd love to see us play at Scarborough and will hope that the final dates, venues etc will show that one on the calendar. If it happens, I'll be checking the B and Bs there to get a nice early booking.
I still stand by what I said earlier, that there's nothing in the group as it stands that would worry me unduly. Obviously, there's a lot of recruitment to be done around the country at present, but we can hold our own against these guys. Aside from not getting Scotland, I'm just pleased we've avoided Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Durham, mainly because we see them every year in the Twenty/20.
Thanks to all recent contributors. I'll have a few comments on what you've added to the blog later tonight.
As I reported in my "12 minute lunchtime special", dashed off earlier while I ate my delicious sandwiches (thanks Mrs Peakfan) we've got a decent draw.
For those who don't know, this competition is to be played on a home and away basis, so that will be 12 games in total. The three group winners then qualify for the semi finals, together with the best of the three group runners-up.
So, having had my hopes of a trip to Edinburgh dashed, I now console myself with the thought that maybe, just maybe, the game against Yorkshire will be played at Scarborough. One of my few remaining cricket ambitions is to see Derbyshire play there. I gave up on one of them a long time ago, which was playing for the hallowed XI.
Even for a county who at one time specialised in recruiting old, almost retired players from elsewhere (Clive Inman, Fred Trueman, Fred Rumsey, Ron Headley) an opportunity for Peakfan to strut his stuff in Derbyshire colours is probably past at this stage. I've even stopped sticking my gear in the back of the car, just in case...
Seriously though, I'd love to see us play at Scarborough and will hope that the final dates, venues etc will show that one on the calendar. If it happens, I'll be checking the B and Bs there to get a nice early booking.
I still stand by what I said earlier, that there's nothing in the group as it stands that would worry me unduly. Obviously, there's a lot of recruitment to be done around the country at present, but we can hold our own against these guys. Aside from not getting Scotland, I'm just pleased we've avoided Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Durham, mainly because we see them every year in the Twenty/20.
Thanks to all recent contributors. I'll have a few comments on what you've added to the blog later tonight.
Breaking news
Breaking news is that we’ve been drawn in Group B of the new ECB40 League that will commence in 2010
The group in full is
Derbyshire
Essex
Gloucestershire
Middlesex
Netherlands
Northamptonshire
Yorkshire
I’ve got three initial thoughts.
One is – darn it, we’ve not got Scotland. Call me selfish, but I’d quite have enjoyed a local match!
A second thought is hey – we’ve got the Netherlands. That should be a good trip for some of the loyal fans and something a little different.
The third is that this is a winnable group. There’s not a team in the group that I would look at and think were miles better than us. Essex will probably start favourites on recent form, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over any of these sides.
I’m sure Northamptonshire will look forward to playing us and no doubt their idiot minority may be alive and kicking on 606 tonight, but for me that’s a decent draw.
Take another look at it too.
We’re top already…
The group in full is
Derbyshire
Essex
Gloucestershire
Middlesex
Netherlands
Northamptonshire
Yorkshire
I’ve got three initial thoughts.
One is – darn it, we’ve not got Scotland. Call me selfish, but I’d quite have enjoyed a local match!
A second thought is hey – we’ve got the Netherlands. That should be a good trip for some of the loyal fans and something a little different.
The third is that this is a winnable group. There’s not a team in the group that I would look at and think were miles better than us. Essex will probably start favourites on recent form, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over any of these sides.
I’m sure Northamptonshire will look forward to playing us and no doubt their idiot minority may be alive and kicking on 606 tonight, but for me that’s a decent draw.
Take another look at it too.
We’re top already…
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Dark horses
I have to say I'm impressed by the young Trinidad and Tobago side.
Pollard is, as I said the other day, a very clean striker of a ball and I was impressed by young (and tiny) Adrian Barath today. I remember reading about the then 11 year old when Brian Lara had him in the nets to general amazement.
He has only had 38 first class innings before this game today but had scored 5 centuries and 7 fifties. This was his first Twenty/20 match and he looks a real talent.
Such promise suggests that the West Indies decline, at one time thought terminal, may not be as pronounced as we thought. If a young Derbyshire batsman was returning those stats he would be fast tracked into the England squad and rightly so.
Barath can't be far away from a call to their national side.
With Barath, Pollard and Bravo, Trinidad are certainly doing their bit for the Caribbean.
Pollard is, as I said the other day, a very clean striker of a ball and I was impressed by young (and tiny) Adrian Barath today. I remember reading about the then 11 year old when Brian Lara had him in the nets to general amazement.
He has only had 38 first class innings before this game today but had scored 5 centuries and 7 fifties. This was his first Twenty/20 match and he looks a real talent.
Such promise suggests that the West Indies decline, at one time thought terminal, may not be as pronounced as we thought. If a young Derbyshire batsman was returning those stats he would be fast tracked into the England squad and rightly so.
Barath can't be far away from a call to their national side.
With Barath, Pollard and Bravo, Trinidad are certainly doing their bit for the Caribbean.
Being a fan...
I've watched snippets of the Champions League Twenty/20 over the past week or so. While regular readers will know I'm not a huge fan of the format, there have been some good performances and the results so far have confirmed my thoughts that the real cricketing powers (irrespective of the result of the Ashes) are Australia and South Africa, the sides from those countries having played good, purposeful cricket.
You could argue that their sides are the freshest too, with Sussex and Somerset coming off the back of long hard seasons. Alternately, you could say that the latter should have been in better nick, but it hasn't looked that way. Trinidad and Tobago have been the surprise package, with expansive strokes and steady bowling making them a decent side, at least in this format.
Thanks to those who have been in touch about the difference of opinion I had on In Morris We Trust earlier in the week with a Derbyshire "fan". I'm annoyed and sorry that I allowed myself to get dragged into it and asked for my comments to be removed. It won't happen again.
There were two things that annoyed me. One was the contributor suggesting I set myself up as an "oracle" of Derbyshire cricket, which I don't. I write on here, purely and simply as a fan of the club. I have been since 1967 and I will be until my coffin goes through the curtains on the crematorium conveyor belt, hopefully a long time from now. As a fan, or supporter if you will, I support the club, the Director of Cricket, the players and the administration. Don't get me wrong, there'll be times when I'll criticise when it is deserved, when our batting capitulates, or our bowlers lob assorted junk down on a bad length. Yet such occurrences are much rarer these days, with the exception of a couple of poor one day games in the past season.
If people think I know a bit about the club, that's nice, though I don't set myself as Derbyshire cricket's Mastermind. My "name" gives it away. Peakfan. I'm a fan. Be honest, "The Derbyshire Oracle" or "Moaning Git's Derbyshire Page" might not have the same ring, though the latter might fit better with aspects of the Derbyshire psyche.
You don't believe me? Look at the Derby Telegraph on the Monday after a Derby County game. If we lose, there'll be twice as many contributors than if we win. Same with message boards about the cricket club, there's always more contributors ready to vent their spleen on a loss than acknowledge a job well done. Crazy, but true. I try to remember that, whatever the result, these guys are doing their best and sometimes it just ain't enough. Sometimes the opposition play better, sometimes we don't get the rub of the green, occasionally we play badly. C'est la vie, as someone (probably French) once said...
The other thing that annoyed me was the suggestion that I'm not a real fan as I don't go to enough games. There's three reasons for that. One is the piffling 680-mile round trip between our house and the County Ground. Another is the fact that I've a wife and two kids who quite like their husband/Dad to be around and who I enjoy being with. The third is that I have a full time job that pays the bills and keeps me fairly busy from Monday to Friday (and occasionally on Saturdays too). Much as I'd love to devote my annual leave to cricket watching, holidays with the family have to take precedence.
Yet outside of my family and my job, Derbyshire cricket is my biggest interest by a country mile. I love books, love music of most kinds and I'm a huge film fan. I still support Derby County. Yet they pall next to Derbyshire Cricket Club. I would love to live closer so I could see more games, but I'm realistic enough to accept that unless we get a game against Scotland in Edinburgh, the nearest I'd get to a home game is a five-hour round trip to see us play Durham in the Twenty/20.
So I content myself with my lot. Reading as much about the club as I can find, watching them on Sky, keeping in touch with pals by e mail and text (thanks guys!) and minimising the desktop scoreboard on my computer at work so I can keep an eye on developments. Oh, and keeping half an eye on teletext and doing this blog.
I must have seen around 500 games in my time and can close my eyes and picture the scene at most of them. I can remember the laughs and the comments that my Dad and I have exchanged at these matches, all of them enjoyed. Apart from the only Twenty/20 I took Dad to, when he said he would sooner have his toenails removed with pliers than go through that again - unless they played Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey at the fall of wickets and the hitting of boundaries...
So, if you are in a position where you can go to a lot of cricket, make sure that you appreciate it. There's people out there, like me, would absolutely love to be there with you, but because of a variety of circumstances can't do so.
But we're no less a fan because of that.
You could argue that their sides are the freshest too, with Sussex and Somerset coming off the back of long hard seasons. Alternately, you could say that the latter should have been in better nick, but it hasn't looked that way. Trinidad and Tobago have been the surprise package, with expansive strokes and steady bowling making them a decent side, at least in this format.
Thanks to those who have been in touch about the difference of opinion I had on In Morris We Trust earlier in the week with a Derbyshire "fan". I'm annoyed and sorry that I allowed myself to get dragged into it and asked for my comments to be removed. It won't happen again.
There were two things that annoyed me. One was the contributor suggesting I set myself up as an "oracle" of Derbyshire cricket, which I don't. I write on here, purely and simply as a fan of the club. I have been since 1967 and I will be until my coffin goes through the curtains on the crematorium conveyor belt, hopefully a long time from now. As a fan, or supporter if you will, I support the club, the Director of Cricket, the players and the administration. Don't get me wrong, there'll be times when I'll criticise when it is deserved, when our batting capitulates, or our bowlers lob assorted junk down on a bad length. Yet such occurrences are much rarer these days, with the exception of a couple of poor one day games in the past season.
If people think I know a bit about the club, that's nice, though I don't set myself as Derbyshire cricket's Mastermind. My "name" gives it away. Peakfan. I'm a fan. Be honest, "The Derbyshire Oracle" or "Moaning Git's Derbyshire Page" might not have the same ring, though the latter might fit better with aspects of the Derbyshire psyche.
You don't believe me? Look at the Derby Telegraph on the Monday after a Derby County game. If we lose, there'll be twice as many contributors than if we win. Same with message boards about the cricket club, there's always more contributors ready to vent their spleen on a loss than acknowledge a job well done. Crazy, but true. I try to remember that, whatever the result, these guys are doing their best and sometimes it just ain't enough. Sometimes the opposition play better, sometimes we don't get the rub of the green, occasionally we play badly. C'est la vie, as someone (probably French) once said...
The other thing that annoyed me was the suggestion that I'm not a real fan as I don't go to enough games. There's three reasons for that. One is the piffling 680-mile round trip between our house and the County Ground. Another is the fact that I've a wife and two kids who quite like their husband/Dad to be around and who I enjoy being with. The third is that I have a full time job that pays the bills and keeps me fairly busy from Monday to Friday (and occasionally on Saturdays too). Much as I'd love to devote my annual leave to cricket watching, holidays with the family have to take precedence.
Yet outside of my family and my job, Derbyshire cricket is my biggest interest by a country mile. I love books, love music of most kinds and I'm a huge film fan. I still support Derby County. Yet they pall next to Derbyshire Cricket Club. I would love to live closer so I could see more games, but I'm realistic enough to accept that unless we get a game against Scotland in Edinburgh, the nearest I'd get to a home game is a five-hour round trip to see us play Durham in the Twenty/20.
So I content myself with my lot. Reading as much about the club as I can find, watching them on Sky, keeping in touch with pals by e mail and text (thanks guys!) and minimising the desktop scoreboard on my computer at work so I can keep an eye on developments. Oh, and keeping half an eye on teletext and doing this blog.
I must have seen around 500 games in my time and can close my eyes and picture the scene at most of them. I can remember the laughs and the comments that my Dad and I have exchanged at these matches, all of them enjoyed. Apart from the only Twenty/20 I took Dad to, when he said he would sooner have his toenails removed with pliers than go through that again - unless they played Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey at the fall of wickets and the hitting of boundaries...
So, if you are in a position where you can go to a lot of cricket, make sure that you appreciate it. There's people out there, like me, would absolutely love to be there with you, but because of a variety of circumstances can't do so.
But we're no less a fan because of that.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Pollard catapults to prominence
I might be wrong but I'd reckon that there will be more than a few county coaches watching Kieron Pollard's assault on the New South Wales bowling tonight and thinking he could do a job in the Twenty/20 next summer.
It is the latest in a growing collection of impressive knocks by the 22 year old. With three centuries in his 33 first class knocks. He announced himself in grand manner, making a century in 71 balls on debut and getting off the mark with a six, one of six in the innings. He scored another ton in his third appearance, again with six "maximums" as the Aussies love to call them. Like all attacking players, his form has been up and down since but he's still a young lad.
His assault tonight, especially on Moises Henriques, who I have previously praised (I'll get me coat!) was spectacular. Any side needing 80 from the last seven overs would be preparing for the inevitable, but Trinidad and Tobago won with nine balls to spare! Pollard scored an unbeaten 54 from 18 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes.
Mind you, I could just imagine some of the conversations at the County Ground if Pollard had done that for us, no doubt centred around him being lazy and not running enough in some quarters...
No, I'm not advocating we sign him, as I'm happy to leave such a decision to one better qualified than I, but I'd be very surprised if Mr Pollard isn't the recipient of a contract from one of the counties. His medium pace is useful and he's a good fielder too, perfect for the short game.
Place your bets now as to where he goes...
It is the latest in a growing collection of impressive knocks by the 22 year old. With three centuries in his 33 first class knocks. He announced himself in grand manner, making a century in 71 balls on debut and getting off the mark with a six, one of six in the innings. He scored another ton in his third appearance, again with six "maximums" as the Aussies love to call them. Like all attacking players, his form has been up and down since but he's still a young lad.
His assault tonight, especially on Moises Henriques, who I have previously praised (I'll get me coat!) was spectacular. Any side needing 80 from the last seven overs would be preparing for the inevitable, but Trinidad and Tobago won with nine balls to spare! Pollard scored an unbeaten 54 from 18 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes.
Mind you, I could just imagine some of the conversations at the County Ground if Pollard had done that for us, no doubt centred around him being lazy and not running enough in some quarters...
No, I'm not advocating we sign him, as I'm happy to leave such a decision to one better qualified than I, but I'd be very surprised if Mr Pollard isn't the recipient of a contract from one of the counties. His medium pace is useful and he's a good fielder too, perfect for the short game.
Place your bets now as to where he goes...
Find us keepers
Apologies for the marginally punworthy title of this one, but I only just realised that this is my 601st post on the blog. How time flies when you're having fun!
Anyway, I'll be back at work next week after a refreshing and rewarding time at home this week, painting, gardening, cleaning cars and generally chilling with my homies - bet you didn't realise I was such a hip guy huh? Though I've just blown it with using the word "hip", of course.
Unless there's breaking news, I'll then be doing a blog every two or three days.
Nothing to report at the County Ground, but the winds of change blowing through the Counties are getting stronger. Gloucestershire are reporting that they have little money for team improvements this winter, although they are looking for an opening batsman to replace Craig Spearman, while Grant Hodnett was also released in the light of next year's legislation (he's South African).
They hope to sign, according to the local papers, the Surrey wicket-keeper Jon Batty. That would perhaps see the final movement of a hectic wicket-keeping merry go round. It has seen Steve Davies leave Worcestershire, with James Pipe suggested as his replacement. Then Pipe retired to become our physio and we signed our former keeper Lee Goddard from Durham. Davies then goes to Surrey, which leaves no room for Batty. Worcestershire then approach Gloucestershire for Steve Adshead and he's likely to move, while Batty is likely to move to Gloucester as his replacement as his Mum and Dad stay near there. Have you followed that?
Kent, according to reports are likely to report a loss of up to half a million this year. That is serious money, especially in the current economic climate. It makes you all the more grateful that our club is run very efficiently. I know there are those who complain about different things, but we are a small club run on very sound business principles.
There are some out there who feel we should adopt a "boom or bust" policy and sign everyone in sight, but that's not feasible, as John Bracewell says at Gloucester. They're working to a five year plan, pretty much the same as us. I still maintain that is the time to judge John Morris, as he started a job that was difficult and it has been made harder still by the so-called Memorandum of Understanding, which is as near as dammit telling teams who they can and can't pick.
Morris also has to cope with unrealistic expectations. We'd all love to go to another big Lords final, or Twenty/20 finals day, or get promotion. Yet the reality is we aren't a sleeping giant as we've never been one. Maybe we're an embryonic giant, but Derbyshire have never been, outside of the 1930's and the early 1950's, a genuine force to be reckoned with. If I was honest (which I am) the 1936 Championship was fortunate as we'd the luck with the weather (although it made up for the ill fortune of 1935). If you think back to our one day trophies, we hobbled across the line to beat Northamptonshire thanks to Colin Tunnicliffe's late heroics and we beat Lancashire thanks to Frank Griffith's tight last over . Although on both occasions I had legs, arms, fingers - maybe eyes - crossed, I thought we were going to blow both of them.
Only the Refuge Assurance win was more composed, yet there were alarms along the way. Several times we'd big run chases that were a breeze thanks to Messrs Barnett, Morris, Kuiper and co.
The 1950's side played some great cricket. I didn't see them, but my Dad saw them regularly and has told me that 200 was generally enough for a good first innings lead and often a win. If we'd had another decent batsman at that time we'd perhaps have nicked a title or two. Then again, if I'd been another Don Bradman we'd have won everything in the 1970's and 1980's. Life is full of ifs and maybes.
I'll be quite happy if I can see Derbyshire play attractive, purposeful cricket and win on a more regular basis than has recently been the case. It's coming together, slowly, but all fans have to wait and understand that good things are worth waiting for.
They're all the more sweet when they happen too.
Anyway, I'll be back at work next week after a refreshing and rewarding time at home this week, painting, gardening, cleaning cars and generally chilling with my homies - bet you didn't realise I was such a hip guy huh? Though I've just blown it with using the word "hip", of course.
Unless there's breaking news, I'll then be doing a blog every two or three days.
Nothing to report at the County Ground, but the winds of change blowing through the Counties are getting stronger. Gloucestershire are reporting that they have little money for team improvements this winter, although they are looking for an opening batsman to replace Craig Spearman, while Grant Hodnett was also released in the light of next year's legislation (he's South African).
They hope to sign, according to the local papers, the Surrey wicket-keeper Jon Batty. That would perhaps see the final movement of a hectic wicket-keeping merry go round. It has seen Steve Davies leave Worcestershire, with James Pipe suggested as his replacement. Then Pipe retired to become our physio and we signed our former keeper Lee Goddard from Durham. Davies then goes to Surrey, which leaves no room for Batty. Worcestershire then approach Gloucestershire for Steve Adshead and he's likely to move, while Batty is likely to move to Gloucester as his replacement as his Mum and Dad stay near there. Have you followed that?
Kent, according to reports are likely to report a loss of up to half a million this year. That is serious money, especially in the current economic climate. It makes you all the more grateful that our club is run very efficiently. I know there are those who complain about different things, but we are a small club run on very sound business principles.
There are some out there who feel we should adopt a "boom or bust" policy and sign everyone in sight, but that's not feasible, as John Bracewell says at Gloucester. They're working to a five year plan, pretty much the same as us. I still maintain that is the time to judge John Morris, as he started a job that was difficult and it has been made harder still by the so-called Memorandum of Understanding, which is as near as dammit telling teams who they can and can't pick.
Morris also has to cope with unrealistic expectations. We'd all love to go to another big Lords final, or Twenty/20 finals day, or get promotion. Yet the reality is we aren't a sleeping giant as we've never been one. Maybe we're an embryonic giant, but Derbyshire have never been, outside of the 1930's and the early 1950's, a genuine force to be reckoned with. If I was honest (which I am) the 1936 Championship was fortunate as we'd the luck with the weather (although it made up for the ill fortune of 1935). If you think back to our one day trophies, we hobbled across the line to beat Northamptonshire thanks to Colin Tunnicliffe's late heroics and we beat Lancashire thanks to Frank Griffith's tight last over . Although on both occasions I had legs, arms, fingers - maybe eyes - crossed, I thought we were going to blow both of them.
Only the Refuge Assurance win was more composed, yet there were alarms along the way. Several times we'd big run chases that were a breeze thanks to Messrs Barnett, Morris, Kuiper and co.
The 1950's side played some great cricket. I didn't see them, but my Dad saw them regularly and has told me that 200 was generally enough for a good first innings lead and often a win. If we'd had another decent batsman at that time we'd perhaps have nicked a title or two. Then again, if I'd been another Don Bradman we'd have won everything in the 1970's and 1980's. Life is full of ifs and maybes.
I'll be quite happy if I can see Derbyshire play attractive, purposeful cricket and win on a more regular basis than has recently been the case. It's coming together, slowly, but all fans have to wait and understand that good things are worth waiting for.
They're all the more sweet when they happen too.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Ashes Cricket - Wii
I've meant to mention this for a few days, but my son and daughter got me this game for my birthday and he and I have had some fine matches in the past couple of weeks.
It is great fun and in some respects similar to the real thing in that the timing of your stroke means everything. Too quick and the ball goes straight up in the air, too slow and you'll squirt it out square of the wicket or, worse still, be bowled ignominiously.
You can "shine" the ball to make it swing, and can also spin it. I can die a happy man (but hopefully not for some time) in the knowledge that I took Muralitharan for 34 off an over...
There are only two frustrations. One is the fielding, which is somewhat bizarre. Easy catches, the ones you'd toss to a little kid to teach it how to, get dropped, yet you can play a full blooded sweep shot and the wicket-keeper will stretch out a Barbapapa-style hand and catch it. A ball will go straight to a fielder at point and he'll not move, but third man or extra cover will run to pick it up and throw in. Very strange...especially when almost all throws at the stumps hit!
The other is that there's only three levels. Once you've figured out how to play, "Village" is a breeze. I'd have to say, on the basis of "Village" in this game, my real club side must be county standard. The "County" standard is only slightly higher, while "Test" - the top level, naturally - leaves a player chasing around 100-120 in a 20 over game, fairly easily attainable when you get used to the timing (though not if you're batting as England...)
It would have benefited from more of a cricket input too. If you dispense with third man and fine leg and have everyone in front of square, the computer will hardly ever get a boundary. We all know that there's many a run scored with a nurdle and a deft glide.
Only English and Australian players are licensed, though the resemblances vary. Flintoff looks like an East End hardman, while Strauss looks permanently startled. Other countries players simply have their names changed a little - so "Smyth" "Kollis" and "Bertha" all play for South Africa...
Good fun, worth a pre-owned purchase and will get you through the long winter months. No comparison to the real thing though.
Not even tanking Muralitharan!
It is great fun and in some respects similar to the real thing in that the timing of your stroke means everything. Too quick and the ball goes straight up in the air, too slow and you'll squirt it out square of the wicket or, worse still, be bowled ignominiously.
You can "shine" the ball to make it swing, and can also spin it. I can die a happy man (but hopefully not for some time) in the knowledge that I took Muralitharan for 34 off an over...
There are only two frustrations. One is the fielding, which is somewhat bizarre. Easy catches, the ones you'd toss to a little kid to teach it how to, get dropped, yet you can play a full blooded sweep shot and the wicket-keeper will stretch out a Barbapapa-style hand and catch it. A ball will go straight to a fielder at point and he'll not move, but third man or extra cover will run to pick it up and throw in. Very strange...especially when almost all throws at the stumps hit!
The other is that there's only three levels. Once you've figured out how to play, "Village" is a breeze. I'd have to say, on the basis of "Village" in this game, my real club side must be county standard. The "County" standard is only slightly higher, while "Test" - the top level, naturally - leaves a player chasing around 100-120 in a 20 over game, fairly easily attainable when you get used to the timing (though not if you're batting as England...)
It would have benefited from more of a cricket input too. If you dispense with third man and fine leg and have everyone in front of square, the computer will hardly ever get a boundary. We all know that there's many a run scored with a nurdle and a deft glide.
Only English and Australian players are licensed, though the resemblances vary. Flintoff looks like an East End hardman, while Strauss looks permanently startled. Other countries players simply have their names changed a little - so "Smyth" "Kollis" and "Bertha" all play for South Africa...
Good fun, worth a pre-owned purchase and will get you through the long winter months. No comparison to the real thing though.
Not even tanking Muralitharan!
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